How to Pick a Surgeon for a Prostatectomy
If you or a loved one is scheduled to undergo a prostatectomy (an operation to remove the prostate gland), it is always smart to make sure the surgeon you choose is board-certified and licensed. When searching for a surgeon, you may also want to know if he or she has been subject to any disciplinary actions. According to MDNationwide, an estimated 50 to 60 percent of physicians are sued at least once during their career. The more you know, the easier it will be to make the best decision for you or your loved one.
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Things You'll Need
- Physician information including first and last name, address and specialty
Instructions
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Use an Internet service. Services such as MDNationwide will charge you for a full background report, but the information is often extensive. You can expect to read results on the doctor's training, education, awards, any malpractice history, license status and board-certification status.
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Contact the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), a non-profit organization composed of 24 medical specialty boards. The ABMS website is http://www.abms.org.
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Contact the state medical board. Most state medical boards offer limited information on doctors, so you may wish to do further research.
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Contact your insurance company. Some insurance companies have networks that enable you to check if the surgeon you choose is included in that network and will be less expensive for you.
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Interview various surgeons. Ask each how much experience he or she has had in performing prostatectomies. What is his success rate with similar patients? Is the hospital where she works one that is comfortable and convenient for you? (You will likely spend several days in the hospital after surgery.)
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Tips & Warnings
The Internet allows you to search and compare various surgeons in your area in a short amount of time. While many sites will charge a fee for a detailed doctor report, you can still find some free information by going online or by contacting the state medical board. When checking your doctor's background, more than three malpractice judgments is usually not a good sign, according to the Disabled World website. If a doctor has been practicing 5 years or more and is fellowship-trained in her specialty field, these are good signs. Your local library may also have good information. Ask other patients about the surgeon and what they thought of their experience.
Do your research and find out how credible the company is that provides the physician information. Remember, the Internet is full of many sources claiming to have detailed information, but many actually don't. Information on the Internet is not carefully regulated--especially sites based outside the United States. According to the American Board of Medical Specialties, you should be suspicious of sites offering information on healthy living in addition to products for sale.
